February 13, 2011

Fastball: During his first appearance, Petricka worked in the 94-96 MPH range with his fastball. The velocity is there for it to be a plus pitch, but command and movement are lacking. However, he has the ability to create downward plane at times which will help keep the ball in the park. And while he will sometimes elevate the pitch, the great majority of his fastballs which missed the strike zone were down and away to right handed hitters. …

“I look at the roster and the games earlier in the season and how we’re going to play it, I look at the fifth starter,” Guillen said. “We’re going to use the fifth starter maybe one or two outings because of the day off and we can bump people, move people in the rotation.”

on Peavy:

“I don’t expect him to be out there,” said Guillen, aware that Peavy will trying to convince him, general manager Ken Williams and pitching coach Don Cooper that he’ll be ready by April 1. “We have a Plan A,” Guillen said. “Plan B is going to be with Peavy there on roster as the fifth starter.”

on Sale:

“I think for him, he has to be in the bullpen,” said Guillen, who wasn’t sure if Sale would handle the closer or set-up duties. “I know he was a starter in college. But I already saw him in the big leagues last year in the bullpen, and I loved it.”

“Chris Sale is going to be a starter,” Cooper told a radio audience Thursday. “I am just not sure it’s going to be right now. When Kenny makes the decision to start Sale, it’s going to be to stay there. People say, ‘Let Sale start.’ Well, what if Peavy is ready in three weeks? Now we move Sale [from the rotation to the bullpen]? It’s a little much for anybody, let alone a rookie, to jump from role to role. When the decision is made for Chris Sale to start, I welcome that challenge to get him over the hump as a starter. But he has already shown that he has a chance to be a real quality reliever.’’